I find the attention of the people fixed on earthly things. They are all rushing about for the sake of their stomachs. No one is thinking of God…Many people entering the world, become more and more involved in it; they drown in worldliness and suffer the agonies of death. A few only, like Janaka, have succeeded, through the power of their austerity, in leading the spiritual life as householders. Therefore spiritual practice is extremely necessary; otherwise one cannot rightly live in the world.
(p.154, The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Ramakrishna’s advice to the devotees on 15th November 1882)